Note: This program is for CU Boulder faculty only.

Are you considering submitting an NSF Faculty Career Development Program (CAREER) award proposal in 2024? 2024 NSF CAREER Solicitation (NSF 22-586)
Do you feel ready to submit a CAREER proposal at this point in your faculty appointment? RIO's 2024 NSF CAREER Commit-to-Submit Writing Program can help!

Led by Research & Innovation Office Proposal Writer Diane Carillo, this program is designed to support your proposal development from start to finish through individual/one-on-one writing and proposal development coaching, optional peer writing groups, red team reviews, and proposal draft reviews. Participants will learn the ins and outs of writing a competitive NSF CAREER proposal with the goal of submitting a strong proposal by the deadline.

Attention College of Engineering and Applied Science Faculty
You are encouraged to attend RIO’s CAREER Kickoff Workshop. Everyone from CEAS is welcome. 

On this page:

1. Register for RIO’s NSF CAREER Commit-to-Submit Writing Program Kickoff Workshop (Virtual)

Register for our virtual CAREER Kickoff Workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to begin thinking about your readiness as a PI to submit an NSF CAREER award proposal. You will also get a chance to hear from some past CAREER award winners.  All eligible faculty in all departments interested in learning more are welcome and invited to join us for this virtual event!  All eligible faculty across campus are encouraged to attend.

  • Who: Assistant Professors ​and Eligible PIs with Tenure-Track Equivalency per NSF's eligibility criteria
  • When: Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m. MT
  • Where: Virtual via Zoom

Please come prepared to HAVE YOUR CAMERA ON so that you may start getting to know the rest of the 2024 NSF CAREER cohort and to engage in this participatory workshop.

Access Recording & Materials Here Please use your CU Boulder IdentiKey login email to access this shared folder.


    2. Register for RIO’s NSF CAREER Commit-to-Submit Writing Program

    Email Diane Carillo at diane.carillo@colorado.edu to join RIO’s NSF CAREER Commit-to-Submit Writing Program.

    For full participation in the program, register with Diane today or no later than Friday, March 1, 2024. After March 1, contact Diane to discuss scheduling.

    Diane’s 2024 CAREER One-page Handout: Getting Ready to Submit an NSF CAREER Proposal Things to do...Things to Think About


    3. NSF CAREER Broader Impacts Support


    4. NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) NSF 22-586

    2024 NSF CAREER Solicitation (NSF 22-586)

    Synopsis of Program:

    • The NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
    • Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.
    • NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.
    • (Funding is for a minimum of $400,000 for the five-year grant period; minimum funding may vary by Directorate.)
    • Deadline for All NSF Directorates:  Wednesday, July 24, 2024
      (Fourth Wednesday in July, Annually Thereafter)

    Eligibility Per NSF:  Proposers must meet all of the following eligibility requirements as of the annual deadline:

    • Hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF;
    • Be engaged in research in an area of science, engineering, or education supported by NSF;
    • Hold at least a 50% tenure-track (or tenure-track-equivalent) position as an assistant professor (or equivalent title);
    • Be untenured; and
    • Have not previously received a CAREER award. (Prior or concurrent Federal support for other types of awards for nonduplicative research does not preclude eligibility.)

    Tenure-Track Equivalency - For a position to be considered a tenure-track-equivalent position, it must meet all of the following requirements:

    1. the employee has a continuing appointment that is expected to last the five years of a CAREER grant;
    2. the appointment has substantial research and educational responsibilities; and
    3. the proposed project relates to the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as to the mission of the department or organization.

    As stated in the Proposal Preparation Instructions, for non-tenure-track faculty, the Departmental Letter must affirm that the investigator's appointment is at an early-career level equivalent to pre-tenure status, and the Departmental Letter must clearly and convincingly demonstrate how the faculty member's appointment satisfies all the above requirements of tenure-track equivalency.

    Faculty members who are Associate Professors or in equivalent appointments, with or without tenure, are not eligible for the CAREER program. Faculty members who hold Adjunct Faculty or equivalent appointments are not eligible for the CAREER program.

    NO EXEMPTIONS FROM THESE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA WILL BE GRANTED.


    5. NSF CAREER Important Documents and Links


    CU Boulder NSF CAREER Award Recipient List
    CU Boulder is fortunate to have close to 200 NSF CAREER award recipients on campus. See the CU Boulder NSF CAREER Community webpage for a list of awardees.